Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The FAFSA must be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Hard Copy/paper worksheets should be

available but ultimately the application should be submitted online. High school students should

complete the FAFSA on or after January 1 prior to fall enrollment to determine their

eligibility for f inancial aid. Remember, some f inancial aid is given on a f irst-come-f irst-served basis so

submit the application as soon as possible. Students may f ind themselves waiting for their families to

complete their tax returns. Students may use the tax return from the previous year as a means to

complete the FAFSA. This is advisable as the sooner students submit their FAFSA the greater the

likelihood of obtaining more f inancial aid. For example, students f iling for the 2008-2009 school year can

use their families 2006 taxes to complete the FAFSA. Once families complete their 2007 taxes they can

then do an update on the Student Activity Report. Note that you will have to file a FAFSA for

each year you are enrolled in college. In other words, the FAFSA that you file in

your senior year of high school does not apply to the next four years of college.

Remember, the FAFSA is a free application and there should be no costs associated with completing it.

The website (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and helpline (1-800-4-FED-AID) provide assistance free of charge.

If money is requested for any portion of the application process ask your college counselor for help.

You may have the incorrect website.

What do I need to complete the FAFSA?

Before you begin to complete the FAFSA, gather the following documents:

Personal information:

• Driver License Number

• Date(s) of birth of your parent(s)/guardian

• Social Security Numbers (if available) of your parent(s)/guardian

• Alien Registration Number (if not a U.S. citizen)

• Know the legal marital status of your parents

Financial information:

• Tax returns and W-2 (previous year)

• Tax returns and W-2(s) of your parent(s) (previous year)

• An explanation of all untaxed income received (e.g. social security income, welfare)

• An explanation of all untaxed income your parent(s) received

• Records of all assets (e.g. real estate holdings, bank statements, stock certif icates)

• FAFSA Personal Identif ication Number (PIN)

• FAFSA Personal Identif ication Number (PIN) for your parents

How do I get a FAFSA Personal Identification Number (PIN)?

Both you and your parents will need to create a Personal Identif ication Number (PIN) to complete the

FAFSA. Request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. It usually takes about three business days for your PIN to

arrive via e-mail. This is a permanent PIN that can be used whenever f iling for any type of f inancial aid.

Write your PIN down in a safe place so that you remember it. Do not share your PIN with others

as this PIN gives access to your financial information.

Use your PIN for the following functions:

• Electronically “sign” the FAFSA before submitting

• Make corrections to your application

• Check the status of your application

• Renew your application in future years

What happens after I submit the FAFSA?

Af ter you have completed the FAFSA, you will receive an electronic notif ication from the United States

Department of Education. This notice usually arrives within three days and will have a link to your Student

Aid Report (SAR) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Student Aid Report (SAR) and Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

• The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a summary of the information you provided on the FAFSA. It

determines how much f inancial aid you are eligible to receive and your Expected Family Contribution

(EFC) — the amount you and your family are expected to contribute to your college expenses. The

SAR also notif ies you if you are eligible for a Pell Grant.

About your Student Aid Report and Expected Family Contribution

• If you do not receive a SAR within 2 weeks call 1-800-4-FED-AID

• If there are mistakes on the SAR visit www.fafsa.ed.gov, go to FAFSA Follow Up, and click on

Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA. Also, notify the colleges you have applied to so

they can adjust your f inancial aid package.

• The six colleges you indicated on the FAFSA will receive your SAR at the same time that you do. Each

college will then calculate a f inancial aid package and notify you of the amount of aid you will be

awarded if you do attend that school. If you plan on applying to more than six colleges, you may add

additional schools af ter your initial six by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

• If there is an asterisk next to your EFC you will need to provide documentation of the information